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Finding the Green in Modern, Durable Decking Materials

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As lodging facility owners know, well-designed and maintained outdoor spaces are important amenities that help create favorable guest experiences. Exterior areas for relaxation, play and fresh air can provide guests with some of their best memories of your property.

Within these spaces, decked areas often figure prominently. While many decks, patios, boardwalks, pool and hot tub surrounds and docks traditionally used wood surfacing, wood-plastic composite decking is an increasingly attractive alternative. Such materials provide durability and safety features that are suited for the high-use environments of many lodging facilities, and offer great looks and support of green building goals.

When selecting among decking materials for new construction or replacements, following are some considerations to keep in mind.

Durability

Manufacturers typically make composite decking with a blend of wood fiber and polyethylene plastics. The plastic bonds to and protects the wood fibers, and in turn, the wood fibers reinforce the plastic for added stiffness.

Some composite decking brands use manufacturing processes that totally encapsulate the wood fibers in plastic. The result is greater resistance to moisture and rot, and enhanced durability in a range of climates. Full encapsulation also helps such composite decking and railing resist insects.  These factors allow the material to be used in direct ground contact (such as for landscape trim) or where it is regularly exposed to water, including adjacent to pools, for dock surfaces and in areas with frequent rain or snow.

Composite decking materials also resist splintering, twisting, splitting, and cracking. A splinter-free surface makes the material suitable for playground equipment, access ramps, pool and spa surrounds, outdoor showers and in recreational facilities where safety is a concern. Its firm, non-slick surface holds up well to heavy foot traffic. Under typical conditions, composite decking is expected to last two to three times longer than traditional wood decking.

Environmental Responsibility

Some composite decking products are manufactured using recycled materials, giving discarded items like grocery bags, detergent containers, milk jugs and wood pallets a long-lasting second use. Advanced recycling technologies used with composite decking can help prevent millions of pounds of trash from entering landfills each year.

Wood-plastic composite decking with high post-consumer recycled content also can help earn rating points under prominent green building programs, such as LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation, the National Green Building Standard, and California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen). Additional potential areas for points include use of bio-based materials, termite-resistance and regional materials sourcing. For an example of green building program compliance for composite decking, see VAR-1015 issued under the ICC-ES SAVE Program (Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation).

Aesthetics

With colors including earth tones, grays and warm and multi-dimensional hues of tropical hardwoods, architects and contractors can combine multiple colored composite decking boards and rails to create unique deck designs, as well as complement existing building and landscape features. Some composite deck boards also come with realistic wood-grain patterns that simulate the look of popular wood species.

Composite deck boards can be bent for use in such applications as stairs, benches, trellis and walkway arches, planter boxes, and any surface or non-structural features that call for round edges. This enhanced flexibility can save contractors time and trouble when building complex deck and dock designs that include curved planks.

Decorative railing accessories, including posts, post caps, balusters, and trim boards are also available with some composite decking product lines. Certain railing accessories incorporate convenient details such as hollow posts, allowing easy installation of outdoor lighting, audio equipment, and security systems with hidden wiring.

Composite deck tiles provide another surfacing option that is attractive and quick to install on patios, balconies, and rooftops. Like composite deck boards, composite deck tiles are resistant to rot, moisture and insects, and can be made with recycled content. The Hotel Indigo in San Diego used such tiles on its ninth floor meditation deck and Phi Terrace Bar to help support LEED certification.

Maintenance

Depending on the manufacturer, composite decking may not require preservative treatments, water sealing or staining. However, all decking should be periodically cleaned according to manufacturer recommendations to maintain aesthetics and help prevent build up debris that can cause mold and mildew. Commercially available deck cleaners are generally suitable.

With the lodging industry’s growing interest in using durable, environmentally conscious alternatives to conventional building materials, wood-plastic composite decking is emerging to fill the niche. In addition to green building benefits, these products can help reduce long-term costs required for more frequent replacement of wood decking.

Brent Gwatney is vice president of sales and marketing for MoistureShield composite decking. The company’s products contain 95 percent total recycled content and can be used on the ground, in the ground and in the water. Click here or call (866) 729-2378 for more information.

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